Game chat: Phillies, Jays settle series this afternoon

The Phillies have won five of the last five games started by Kyle Kendrick (3-2, 4.87 ERA), who has the ball against Shaun Marcum (4-2, 2.22) and the Jays today at CBP. First pitch is 1:35 ET.

Preview: A team that once went about business by averaging out the winning and losing streaks has figured out that slow and steady wins the race. A win today would give them their second-straight series win, which has happened a lot lately. For that to happen, they could use another quality start from Kendrick, who has five of them on the season all coming over his last six starts. The sophomore right-hander is making his living the same way he did last season, posting a staff-best 52 percent ground ball rate and issuing far fewer walks than he did in his first few starts.

Lineups are in with a few surprises. Following Friday’s three-homer explosion, Jayson Werth gets another shot against a right-hander today and bats second. Pedro Feliz returns to the lineup instead of Greg Dobbs, who had a solid day at the plate yesterday against A.J. Burnett. Carlos Ruiz will do the catching. Shane Victorino sits once again. [Live Boxscore]

Comments

[redbeard]

did KK always warm up to Metallica "Wherever I May Roam", or just since the whole youre traded to japan ruse?

[johnnysanz3]

I have to say after seeing Greg Dobbs hit well yesterday, I would of liked to see him again today, but I think Manuel pretty much has Feliz penciled in for every start with Kendrick.

[JD]

Utley looked like Howard on that swing

[RSB]

One thing accomplished by hitting Werth second is that his patience will allow Rollins an opportunity to steal more bases. That said, it appeared Werth's entire AB was distracted by Rollins starting, stopping, finally running.

[JD]

Howard looked like old Howard on that swing!

[redbeard]

boom!

[RSB]

That was a thing of beauty.

[johnnysanz3]

Was yesterday's game the first game back for Davey Lopes at first? Because they stole like 4 bases yesterday and already one today. Would be nice to keep seeing that more. Wasn't much of it to start the year.

[bay_area_phan]

Ok, Howard is back in my good standing again.

On a totally unrelated note, Wes Helms hit the game-winning homer for the Marlins in last night's game.

[sifl]

Ahh, the classic Howard opposite field bomb. That's a great sign.

[bay_area_phan]

The quality of Geoff Jenkins' ABs is simply appalling.

[Mike]

Jenkins must not like the rain. That was an atrocious AB.

[The Theory]

woo... time for a rain delay!

[RSB]

BAP: no kidding. He sure doesn't make any kind of case for more playing time while he's in there.

[Andy]

b-a-p:
Barajas and Helms each won games for Phillies opponents. Just like the old days...

[redbeard]

great, king of queens...

[JD]

That was weird. I walked out of the room for a minute, came back, and the Toronto sports channel is showing Darts.

[Andy]

RSB - what d'ya mean? No matter how aweful he plays he still looks like Brett Favre? How can you ask for more than that? (Any day now Cameron Diaz is gonna start sitting in the front row with her hair "moussed.")

[johnnysanz3]

If it rains out before the game is official, do the stats still count from the game or no?

[Andy]

sanz - nope. Howard would lose his HR; Jimmy his steal; and Feliz his assist - though by season's end he will have accumulated about a 1000 of those anyway.

[Andy]

JD - that is (slightly) less unlikely than Kendrick throwing darts.

[clout]

With a delay this long, KK is done. Be interesting to see who takes the mound when they resume.

[joe l]

Whatever happened to those blooper / highlight reels they would show on Prism during the rain delays?

[Mike]

We might see Durbin if they get this one in.

[Steve Jeltz]

I'd guess Durbin with Condrey waiting in the wings. Let's hope Durbin pitches well.

[JD]

Maybe they'll bring Eaton back in.

[PhillyFriar]

I've only got the Extra Innings package so there's no information right now. Have Harry and the gang been on at all to give any updates?

[JD]

They're still showing Darts on the Toronto channel. No news yet

[Steve Jeltz]

I'm out of market too but I'd bet they're willing to wait awhile. I'm sure it will be a logistical pain for the Jays to make a one day trip to Philly somewhere down the line.

[Mike]

Unofrtunately the Flyers aren't providing quality rain delay relief.

[clout]

Friar: The local station is showing a "Frasier" re-run. No word on when the game might resume, but the sky is brightening.

[curt]

Someone screwed up starting a game with rain just over the horizon. What an awful way to burn our #2 pitcher.

[PhillyFriar]

Thanks for the responses. I hope they can get this started back up (and I'm sure they want to for the logistical reasons Steve mentioned), and if we're really honest here, we have to be willing to trade no Kendrick for no Marcum from them.

[JD]

The Flyers could use a rain delay right
now

[joe l]

@curt - looking at the radar map on weather.com, what were they thinking? A 90 minute delay to start the game should have been in order.

[Mike]

Funny JD, because I made a comment as the Flyers game was going on that at least there wouldn't be a rain delay.

[JD]

Reminds me of that first year at The Spectrum when a big chunk of the roof blew off. Not sure if it was raining that day, though

[pb]

game is back at 4:05 with durbin starting

[curt]

joe. Precisely. With the technology now available, you never see a game started and stopped a few minutes later. Heads should roll.

[JD]

Nuts! That means the Darts champonship will be over.

[johnnysanz3]

I'm guessing Toronto will bring in some obscure rookie left hander with a career ERA of 1329847129384712.32 and a whip of 10 and he will pitch 8 inning 2 hit ball. Or the phillies will just crush toronto and Durbin will pitch a complete game (kind of)

[joe l]

curt, the Phils not taking advantage of technology? Nah...

[johnnysanz3]

It's too bad about the rain, with the early run support and the good 1st inning by Kendrick I had a good feeling about him against this weak Toronto lineup today.

[Steve Jeltz]

Royals beat the Fish.

[curt]

Feliz and Ruiz at 7 and 8 feels like the return of a black hole.

[BushLig]

Game is finally back on DirecTV at 4:20 in case anyone gave up. Channel 731.

[JD]

The same problem as yesterday. DirectV seems to have a problem with the Toronto feed, but all is well now.

[clout]

Flyers crapping the bed.

[Andy]

I wonder what kind of pitch count Durbin is on today. After Eaton's black-hole last night, no one (except for Lidge) (and Eaton) is particularly well rested.

[JD]

Big time